ABSTRACT
Atherosclerosis, a chronic disorder and the main pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases, is initiated by theformation of the macrophage foam cell at the subendothelial layer of the blood vessel wall. This study aimed toinvestigate the anti-atherosclerosis activity of n-hexane extract of Eleutherine americana Merr. (E. americana) onhuman macrophage through in vitro induction with oxidized-Low Density Lipoprotein (ox-LDL). The macrophagewas obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) that were isolated from the serum of a healthy male.After the monocytes were maturely differentiated, the n-hexane extract of E. americana with a dose of 0.25, 1, and2 mg/ml was added before stimulation with ox-LDL. The foam cell was determined through Oil Red O staining, theexpressions of Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) and Adenosine Triphosphate-binding cassette transporter A1/G1 (ABCA1/ABCG1) were measured by immunofluorescence, and the activity of peroxisome-proliferator-activator receptor γ(PPARγ) was measured through Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results demonstrated that the foam celland the expression of TLR4 on the group with E. americana extract treatment were lower than the ox-LDL group (p <0.05). The expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 on the group that was given the extract was higher than ox-LDL group(p < 0.05). This study concluded that the n-hexane extract of E. americana demonstrated anti-atherosclerosis activityon human macrophage induced with ox-LDL.
ABSTRACT
A study was undertaken to involve a hyperendemic community in Berakit village near Tanjung Pinang to participate actively in the control of malaria. Weekly chemoprophylaxis with chloroquine was given to all villagers of RK I with a population of about 700 for a period of one year. Nine cadres were selected from the community by the villagers for the distribution of the drug and coordinated by the head of the village. About 14-19 families were supervised by one cadre who was responsible for the weekly distribution of the drug to these families. The weekly dosage of the drug was adjusted according to age. The drug was taken in the presence of the cadres to assure the intake, and recorded by each cadre. The results showed that 93.7% of the villagers have taken the drug regularly. The remaining 6.3% of them showed refusal and irregular intake, or moved to another village during the period of prophylaxis. Although the drug has a bitter taste, most of the children were able to tolerate it. In general, mild side effects were reported and infrequently observed. Implementation of community participation to control malaria in this village showed good results which was reflected in the results of the malariometric surveys carried out before and after one year chemoprophylaxis. The spleen rate of about 600 villagers of RK I examined was 54.3% and the parasite rate 13.2% before the drug intervention. After one year chemoprophylaxis the spleen rate decreased to 21.7% and the parasite rate to 4.5% showing a significant difference.